Surgical instrument for cutting and removing sutures



Nov. 24, 1970 f. J. R. BEAVER f i 3,541,684

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CUTTING AND REMOVING SUTURES Filed Nov. '14, Y1968 gg 1, D '0 D 5; 5

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United States Patent O 3,541,684 SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR CUTTING AND REMOVING SUTURES John R. Beaver, Belmont, Mass., assignor to Rudolph Beaver, Inc., Belmont, Mass., a corporation of Massaehusetts Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 715,645, Mar. 25, 1968. This application Nov. '14, 1968, Ser. N o. 775,629

Int. Cl. B26b 11/00 U.S. Cl. 30-124 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF TIE DISCLOSURE A surgical instrument for cutting and removing sutures in a single operation comprising of forcep-like device having opposing faces at the free distal ends and an inner pair of arms joined to the forceps substantially parallel thereto and moveable transversely and laterally in response to a compression moment exerted on the forceps to draw a suture within the opposed faces which is thereupon severed by a V-shaped blade member on one face thereof.

This invention relates generally to surgical instruments and more particularly to an improved suture removing device adapted to sever and retain the suture within the closed instrument for removal in a sequential operation.

The application is a continuation in part of my previous application Ser. No. 715,645 led Mar. 25, 1968, now abandoned, entitled Suture Removing Device.

Various devices and methods have been utilized in the past for the removal of skin closure sutures consisting of nylon, silk or animal gut. Foremost among the devices in use are a combination of forceps or tweezers and a surgical blade or scissors. As removal of skin sutures is basically an operative procedure, there is a requirement that the instruments utilized in this procedure be pre-sterilized and the sterile requirements impose an additional burden on personnel where two or more instruments are involved. Additionally, there is the problem of maintaining sterility of both components during the primary and secondary aspects of the cutting and removing of the skin sutures. One method available is the preparation of inexpensive forceps andscissors which are made up in pre-sterile packs and which are disposable after use. However, presently available kits necessitate the use of both hands during the entire procedure, one to manipulate the forceps, the other to operate the scissors. Since all operating procedures and a large percentage of skin wounds require suture closing, there is a strong demand for a simple and effective device which combines the cutting action of the scissors with a retentive feature for both simultaneous cutting and grasping actions in a single motion.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a simple, novel and inexpensive surgical instrument adapted to simultaneously grasp, lift, and cut a tied suture for quick removal from the skin.

Another object of this invention is to provide a surgical instrument for severing and removal of sutures which can be operated with one hand.

A further object of this invention is to provide a surgical instrument for the severing and removal of sutures which prevents the non-sterile portion of the suture from passing through the tissues during the removal.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

Broadly stated, one feature of this invention is to provide a suture cutting and removing device of simple twopiece construction having a metal cutting edge inserted therein.

To the accomplishment of this and the foregoing related objects, the present invention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed dra-wings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means in the carrying out of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of the various methods by which the principle of the invention may be employed.

REFERRING TO THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the device;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the device in open position with a broken section of skin tissue and suture;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the device in a partially closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of the device in the closed position in the process of severing the suture;

FIG. 5 is a View in end elevation of the device.

Reference is now made to the drawings wherein an illustrative embodiment of the surgical instrument, a construction made in accordance with the present invention and designated by the numeral 10 is shown.

Referring to FIG. 2, the surgical instrument comprises a pair of opposing arms 12 and 14 laterally spaced from each other and joined at one end by a bight 16. The free distal ends 18 and 20 are normally spaced from each other and maintained in that position by the molded form of the plastic materials from which the instruments are constructed. Various materials can be utilized in the construction of the device; however, polystyrene has been found suitable and any other material having similar resilient characteristics, such as hard rubber or various forms of cellulose acetate may be utilized. An inner reinforcing rib 22 is molded integral with the device extending from a point adjacent to the inner faces 24 and 26 of the free ends 18 and 20 and extends throughout the inner surface of the instrument 10. On each of the outer surfaces of the arms 12 and 14, a series of laterally spaced, transversely extending ribs 28 are formed to provide an effective friction gripping surface for the operator while manipulating the device.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, there is illustrated a pair of laterally extending legs 30 and 32 which have a portion disposed in an abutting relation with the inner faces 24 and 26 of the open ends 18 and 20 of the device and joined thereto by integrally formed link members 34 and 36. The link members 34 and 36 due to their construction are hinged so as to move laterally with the legs 30 and 32 when acted upon by an axial force. The legs 30 and 32 extend in the direction of the bight 16 and are formed integrally therewith and within the device is a bridge member 318 having angularly extending webs 40 and 42 connecting the bridge 38 with each of the opposing arms 12 and 14.

A hook member 41 extends from the leg 32 externally on the distal end of the free end 20 and forms an angle approximately 15 to a plane extending parallel to the distal end of the device for a purpose to be set forth more fully hereinafter. Since the hook member 41 is an integral part of the leg 32 and moveable laterally therewith, a corresponding slot 46 is formed in the distal end 18 of the leg 30 to allow free movement of the hook upon closure of the device.

Positioned on the end of the device is a blade member 48 having a body 50 with a V-shaped portion at one end 52 and a rectilinear slot 54 formed in the face thereof. The V-shaped portion 48 having the edges 56 and 58 is beveled from the upper surface to the lower surface to define cutting edges. As is shown in FIG. 5, the blade member is mounted on the end 18 of the arm 12 by means of a screw member 64 or a melted plastic stud through the slot 64. v Y

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE In the normal operation of the device, it is grasped in one hand with the arms 12 and 14 in the open position with the distal ends 18 and 20 lying laterally spaced from each other. The instrument is placed in a vertical position over the suture 58 which extends through the skin 60 and the hook member 41 inserted between the skin 60 and the suture 58. The device is then squeezed 'causing the arms 12 and 14 to move in a direction toward each other. Since the arms 40 and 42 are formed integrally with the device, the narrowing of the distance between the arms 12 and 14 causes the arms `40 and 42 to flex moving the bridge member 38 in a direction of the bight 16. The suture 58 being engaged bythe hook member 41 is drawn upwardly into the area between the legs 30 and 32 and further compression of the arms 12 and 14 causes the link members 34 and 36 to flex allowing the suture to be drawn upwardly and lie disposed within the leg faces 24 and 26 and securely retained by the pressure exerted thereon by the legs 30 and 32. Thus, a clean portion of the suture has been drawn out of the skin, exposing it for cutting. Sequentially, with the grasping of the suture 58, the V-shaped blade member 48 carried by arm 12 moves toward the arm 14 so that the suture is guided into the V-shaped portion and a slicing action is performed on the suture 58. The device is then withdrawn from the wound area and the suture, having been severed in a freshly exposed portion and being retained between the leg faces 24 and 26, is pulled out of the skin tunnel without contamination. After removal from the wound site, relaxation of the arms 12 and 14 causes the instrument to open and the suture removed therefrom.

While there has been described herein what I at present consider preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the exemplary embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

I claim:

1. A surgical instrument for cutting and removing sutures comprising in combination a pair of forceps formed from a resilient material, consisting of a pair of arms connected by a bight; said arms each having opposed faces adjacent to their free distal ends; said free ends maintained normally in spaced relationship to each other, a bridge member disposed between said arms having outwardly extending web members integral with and extending from the inner surface of said arms, and leg members extending transversely from said bridge parallel to and spaced from the inner surface of said arms and joined thereto at the distal endsby flexible link members, one of said leg members having hook means extending beyond the distal end of the arm members and blade means disposed on the distal end of the other said arm.

2. A surgical instrument set forth in claim 1, where said blade means is V-shaped with the edges thereof beveled from the upper to lower surface.

3. A surgical instrument for cutting and removing sutures, comprising (a) a pair lof resilient arms joined by a bight at one end;

(b) the free distal ends of said arms normally spaced from each other and adapted for relative movement toward each other;

(c) web members extending from the inner surface of each of said resilient arms having (d) dependent laterally extending leg members joined to the distal ends of the said arms by link members,

(e) one of said leg members having hook means extending angularly therefrom;

(f) and a v-shaped blade member on one of said arms.

`4. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 3 where a series of laterally spaced transversely extending ridge members are integral with the exterior surface of the said arms.

5. A surgical instrument for cutting and removing sutures, comprising (a) a pair of arms joined by a bight at one end,

(b) the free distal ends of said arms spaced from each other and adapted for relative movement toward each other,

(c) a pair of leg members joined by web members to the inner surface of said arms and having portions thereof disposed in spaced parallel relationship to said arms,

(d) hook means extending angularly from a free end of one of said arm members, blade means fixed to the other of said arm members,

(e) said leg members adapted for lateral movement in response to transverse lmovement (f) whereby sutures may be drawn by said leg members within an area between said arms and sequentially severed by said blade means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,570 3/1923 OHearn 30-*124 1,735,317 11/1929 Helwig 30-124 3,328,876 7/1967 Hoppe 30-124 ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner J. C. PETERS, Assistant Examiner 

